Safety device for aviators.



K W. OLSON. SAFETY DEVICE FOR AVIATORS;

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. 19H)- Patented June 12, 191?.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AVIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 191?.

Application filed August 28, 1916. Serial No. 117,387.

Aviators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a safety device for "aviators which will securely and comfortably hold the aviator in his seat and also allow him to quickly and positively release himself if he so desires, such as-in case of an accident or a fall of h1s machlne. There have been various harnesses made for th1s purpose but they have not been practical or simple so that the 0 erator of the aeroplane could drive in com ort and with the assurfatalities could have been avoided if the,

aviator could have released himself from his machine in time.

It is an important feature of my invention to securely hold the aviator about the body and legs as this will prevent him from being thrown into a doubled up position which would make it impossible for him to operate his levers or release himself.

It is also an important object of my invention that the aviator can quickly and easily fasten himself to his machine. My device is simple in operation and easily operated. Inthe drawings whichform part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective of the portion of an aeroplane frame showingan aviator in position in his seat and with my improved safety device.

Fig. 2. is perspective of the portion of the aeroplane frame with my device attached thereto. 1

Figs. 3 and t are details illustrating the construction of the mechanism.

In the drawing A, illustrates an aeroplane frame of ordinary construction, B illustrates the harness secured to an aviator, and 0 illustrates the mechanism which is adapted to detachably' secure the harness to the aeroplane frame work.

The harness is of simple construction having a belt 2 which is adapted to be fastened about the waist of the aviator. Bands 3,

has two catches 9 on either side.

pass around each leg respectively of the aviator and the bands 3 have an extension piece or strap 4: to the end of which is secured a ring or snap 5 or any suitable means which is adapted to be engaged by the mechanism C to be hereinafter more fully described.

The straps or bands 3 are joined to, or connected withthe belt 2 by straps 6 which prevent the bands 3 from sliding 0d the aviators legs when he is walking around on of the machine.

Straps 7 are secured to either side of the belt 2 and have snaps 8 on their free ends which are adapted to be connected to the mechanism C, in the same manner as the snaps 5.

The mechanism C is preferably positioned directly under the seat of the aviator and The catches 9 being operated by means of a handle 11 which is rigidly secured to a transverse shaft 12, theshaft 12 being freely journaled on either end in the brackets 13 and 14: which aresecured to the frame A of the machine. Rigidly secured to the shaft 12 between the brackets 13 and 14 are elongated links 15 which are pivotally connected to ad acent ends of the rods 16, the other ends of the rods 16 being pivotally connected to the catch bolts 10. The catches 9 are formed with slots or openings 17 which are adapted to be closed by the bolts 10 when the handle 11 is placed in a forward position as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The handle 11.has a spring 'dog 18 of the ordinary construction which is adapted to engage in the notches 19 and 20 formed in the quadrant 21 when moved into the different positions tohol'd the-handle rigidly in place. The quadrant 21 is formed as a part of the bracket 13. A coil spring 22 is positloned on the end of the shaft 12 between the sides of the bracket 13 and is secured on one end to the bracket 13 and on the other end to a pin 23 which passes through the shaft 12, thus when the lever is released from its forwardposition the spring will tend to throw it back thereby turning'the shaft 12 and withdrawing the halts 10 from the slots 17.

When the operator or aviator takes his position in the seat of the aeroplane he will buckle the snaps 5 and 8 in the catches 9 on the bolts 10, with the lever or handle in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and when he desires to release himself from the that rings can be used in place of the snaps 5 and 8.

lWhile I have illustrated one form of device attached to an aeroplane frame, I desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative and my invention can be carried out by other means and applied to other devices within the scope of the following claims. r

Having. described my invention, what I 1.1111 a safety device for aviators, com- I prising, a belt adapted to be secured about the waist of the aviator, straps extended from said belt, straps adapted to be secured about/each leg of said aviator, having depending straps therefrom and means for detachably engaging the free ends of said extending and depending straps to hold said aviator in an aeroplane, said holding means being adapted to simultaneously release said straps and thereby release said aviator.

2. In a safety device for aviators, comprising, means for holding the aviator about the waist and h each leg, means for connecting said hol ing means to the frame of an aeroplane to securely hold said aviator in said aeroplane and means for simultaneously releasing said connecting means to free said aviator from engagement with said aeroplane.

3. in a safety device of the class described, comprising, a belt for encircling the waist of an aviator, bands adapted to en circle the legs of said aviator, straps connecting said'belt and bandsto the frame of an aeroplane to securely hold said aviator in said aeroplane and means for simultaneously releasing all of said straps thereby releasing said aviator from said aeroplane substantially as described.

4. In a safety device of the class described, comprising a belt for encircling the waist of an aviator, bands adapted to enmasses circle the legs of said aviator, straps connecting said belt to said bands to prevent them sliding off. the legs ofsaidaviator, straps connecting said belt and bands to the frame of an aeroplane to securely hold said aviator in said aeroplane and means for simultaneously releasing all of said straps thereby releasing said aviator from said aeroplane substantially as described. 5.-In a'device of the class described, comprising, a belt adaptedv to encircling the waist of an aviator, bands adapted to encircle the legsof said aviator, straps connecting said belt and bands to the frame of an aeroplane to securely hold said aviator in said aeroplane, snaps on the end of said straps, said snaps being adapted to engage on the frame of said aeroplane to detachably hold said aviator to said aeroplane and means for simultaneously releasing all of said snaps, thereby releasing said aviator from said aeroplane substantially as described. e

6.111 a safety device of the class described, comprising means for holding the body of an aviator, means for holding the legs of said aviator, catches secured to the frame ofthe aeroplane, means connecting said body and'legs holding, means to said catches andmeans for simultaneously releasing said catches to release said aviator from said aeroplane substantially as described.

7 7 In asafety device of the class described, comprising a belt adapted to encircle the body of an aviator, bands for each leg of said aviator, catches secured to the frameof an aeroplane, straps connectinisaid belt and bands to said catches and a andle connected to said catches, whereby said catches can be opened to release said straps and release said aviator from said aeroplane.

8. In a safety device of the class described, comprising means for holding the body of an aviator, means for holding the legs of said aviat0r,'catches secured to the frame-of the aeroplane straps secured to said body and 1e s holding means having snaps secured to t eir free ends, catches secured to the frame of said aeroplane, said snaps being adapted to snap. into said catches. and means for simultaneously releasing all of said snaps from said catches by said aviator, substantially as described.

nnn'rn w. cases. 

